Eat More Veggies

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The USDA’s Food Guide Pyramid has undergone many changes, has a brand new look and is now called, My Plate. The new plate symbol aims to help Americans make healthy food choices and to be active every day.  Among the several changes, one noticeable difference is the recommended servings of vegetables which has been increased to 2 ½ cups daily. The new suggestions place a greater forward push on prevention and consuming adequate amount of vegetables to stay healthy or even reverse some less desirable heath states.  Getting adequate veggies isn’t all that tough. Simply adding a salad every night to dinner and throwing on a few extra toppings such as carrots, peas, tomatoes or beets can help reach the suggested servings each day. There is such a large variety with vegetables that probably haven’t even been explored by most and could be fun to try on the next grocery outing! 

To learn more about My Plate the new dietary recommendations, check out US Department of Agriculture website at www.choosemyplate.gov/   Cheers to a healthy Spring!

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Brown is The New White

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The trend has been leaning towards eating more brown grains than eating white grains. Brown whole grains such as rice, flour, and pasta actually has more nutritional value found in the grains. This is because brown rice doesn’t go through the same process that white grains go through. White grains are actually stripped of their nutrients and given that white polish finish, which isn’t natural. Brown rice has all the right nutrients and vitamins needed in your carbohydrate daily servings. Brown rice compared to white rice actually has four times as much protein and other nutritional value. For many, when paired with meat or veggies brown grains such as pasta even taste the same as white grains. The health benefits that brown grains have over white grains are superior. Eating brown grains reduces your chances of diabetes and having high blood sugar levels. It’s an easy change for one to go from white grain products to brown grain products but the change is essential in keeping your body healthy and happy. So make the change today!

www.greatist.com/health/brown-rice-vs-white-rice/#

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Looking to Enjoy the Weather? Explore Sandy Point State Park!

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It’s that time of year again- birds chirping, flowers blooming and getting that extra hour of sunlight. Spring is here. If you are looking for a quiet day at the beach but want to avoid the traffic on the Bay Bridge or the long lines to get food on the Ocean City Boardwalk look no further than Sandy Point State Park.
Sandy Point State Park is located right before the Bay Bridge. The beach is located on the Chesapeake Bay and provides over 700 acres of land for one to relax.
From October to April pet owners can even take their pet to the park. Dogs and other animals are allowed to swim and enjoy the bay water. They even have places for animals to drink water and stay hydrated throughout the day.
Sandy Point State Park offers crabbing, fishing, hiking, areas to lie in the sun, camping, having a picnic or even renting a boat for the day. The park has extensive coastline if one wants to run on the beach or wants a more private place to bask in the sun.
The Park has many policies on recycling and ensuring everyone throws away trash. The park staff wants to not only keep the park clean but helps maintain the Chesapeake Bay. They try and do little things like offer more trash cans or have “trash days” where locals can go and help clean up trash. The Park wants to do as much as possible to preserve the Bay and all the wildlife that lives in it.

Sandy Point State Park is a great place to getaway and enjoy a beautiful spring day with some friends, family or even take a lunch break with your co-workers to get outside and appreciate the warm weather.

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National Kidney Foundation – Baltimore Kidney Walk

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Looking for a way to enjoy the outdoors, get in some exercise and support a good cause? Join with the 1,500 supporters that are expected to participate in Baltimore Kidney Walk on Sunday, May 6th. Over 26 million Americans (1 in 9 adults) have chronic kidney disease and most are not even aware of it. Symptoms often won’t appear until the kidneys are failing and millions experience damage and remain unaware.

Bring awareness and join others for the Kidney Walk on May 6, 2012. Registration opens at 7:30am at the Maryland Zoo entrance and the 1.6 mile walk through the Zoo kicks off at 9am. The walk is open to the whole family and for more information or to walk visit www.kidneywalk.org. You’ll even see a group of Dynasplint colleagues out there walking too!

S

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It’s March – a little inspiration!

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Today is March 1st and the daffodils are popping up all over the place.  It’s a sunny 63 degrees in Annapolis, MD and an outdoor run is calling my name. Need a little push to get up and start moving outside? Or maybe you’re thinking about entering a road race this Spring.

Meet Kathrine Switzer. The first women to enter and complete the Boston Marathon. Click here to read about her incredible story.

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Finding Cures and Saving Children

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Regional Sales Manager, Andy Burke, is running in the Warrior Dash on 6/16/12 to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Reasearch Hospital.  It costs around $1.6 million dollars every single day to run the hospital, most of which is donations. Help make a difference for these children and support Andy in the challenging Warrior Dash race.

To donate, visit Andy’s own donation page.

Children from all 50 states and from around the world have come through the doors of St. Jude for treatment, and thousands more have benefited from the research conducted at St. Jude — research that is shared freely with the global medical community. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for anything.

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Caring for our DSI family

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Our very own, Karyn, shares her story on why running The Maryland Half Marathon will be so meaningful this year. Please read from Karyn below.

Hi Everyone!

Some of you know of my brother-in-law’s 10 month battle with cancer. Dave passed away peacefully & with No Regrets in October.  In fact, I was at my Comp I training during this time.  The Dynasplint family essentially took me in and did everything they could to make this trying time as smooth as possible. 

Dave received his treatment at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center; and from his first time in January to the last hospitalization in June and the subsequent support he was given while on hospice care, he was shown only professional competence and sincere compassion. The UM Greenebaum Cancer Center made a very difficult time a little easier to deal with.  Our family is gathering a team to run The Maryland Half Marathon (May 6, 2012-Howard County) to help raise money for this wonderful facility. 

Please consider joining me in running/walking this event to honor of Dave and all cancer patients. You can register here:   www.mdhalfmarathon.com.  We will be running as Dave’s team “No Regrets” & will have a post run celebration for our team and all of our family & friends.

If you decide to run please let me know (kgallivan@dynasplint.com) so we can be sure to keep our group together.  If you can’t run please consider sponsoring me to raise money for this wonderful organization- my webpage link is www.ummsfoundation.org/Karyn.  Either way, please think about joining us on May 6th for support and celebration!

No Regrets…That was Dave’s saying since he was diagnosed with cancer in January 2011.  Dave didn’t want the diagnosis that he got –but he lived well, loved well and treated everyone with respect.  This is his legacy & it will live on in his family and friends.  He was and continues to be a great inspiration -No Regrets

Please help me honor Dave by supporting the Greenebaum Cancer Center in the Maryland Half Marathon. 

Karyn 
Orthopedic Sales Rep

 

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Get up and out of your chair!

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By most standards, I live an active lifestyle and am physically fit.  I do, however, primarily have a desk job.  It varies day to day and sometimes I am very active while other days I am sitting for nearly 6-8 hours in a row without many steps taken at all.  Most days I am good about  going to the gym after work and hitting the elliptical or stair climber to get blood flowing again. I have always believed workouts were making up for the long periods of sitting – well, I was wrong.

Over the past month, I’ve been reading and seeing reports stating that sitting for long period of time is extremely harmful and increases fat storage and risk for heart attacks. And get this- that risk is for anyone that sits for a long time regardless if we exercise or not!

 I know I don’t feel that great after the sedentary days since my eyes hurt, my legs are sore and I usually feel more fatigued than I do on the really active days. I just didn’t have a clue that sitting could be so harmful. The experts recommended “interruptions” from your desk. They suggest getting up for water breaks, instead of emailing a co-worker to actually get up and walk to their office and talk with them face-to-face.  

The interruptions do not have to be long, just frequent enough and about every hour.  I guess we all have more of an excuse to get up and take part of the water cooler chatter.

Happy interruptions!

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Running With A Mission

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Our very own Dynasplint sales consultant, Ryan Simmons, is running the 2012 Boston Marathon and spreading the word about Summer Search. Summer Search is an organization that helps resilient at-risk children rise above their current circumstances to maybe become a future leader in their communities.  A shocking statistic is that only 14% of all entering freshman into the Boston district and exam schools will graduate from college. Summer search wants this percentage to steadily increase. They take on a comprehensive and hands on approach through mentoring and two exploration programs. The kids that go through summer search all graduated high school and 89% go on to graduate from college. They are often the first in their family with a college degree.

Here’s why Summer Search is near and dear to Ryan:

“I too grew up as an at-risk child where, at times, we didn’t know if we would have food on the table or even afford rent. Yet, somehow, I was blessed with a very resilient mother that found a way to not only get food from the local church but get me scholarships for private Catholic school from K-12. It was her persistence and the mentorship I received from the priests, nuns and other teachers at those schools that helped me become the successful man I am today. I want to pay it forward by helping these local children in my community to achieve what I have been given the opportunity to achieve and more”

Interested in donating and contributing to the good cause? View Ryan’s fundraiser website (www.razoo.com/story/Ryan-Simmons-2012-Boston-Marathon) where you can donate today and help him reach his $5000 goal.

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What’s the best way to enjoy the Fall Foliage??

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I suggest strapping on your shoes and getting out for a run around the neighborhood.  With bright sunny skies and temperatures in the 50’s, it’s the perfect weather for an early morning or afternoon jog.

If you’re looking for some motivation to get out the door, stop by the local YMCA or your running shop to get information on your community turkey trot!  With only 5 weeks until Thanksgiving, it’s a good time to start training.

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